Device for tapping beer-barrels



W T PENNAN DEVICE FOR TAPPING BEER BARBELS.

{ Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

v my S E S S E N h W UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM T. FENNAN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CARL OLDOERP ANDINELLIE'T. KEENAN, or SAME PLAoE, AND JOHN J. MAHONEY, oF'ArLANTIo orrY, N-EW JERsn DEVICE FOR TIAPIPING BEER-BQAFRRELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 601,749, dated April 5, 1898.

' Application filed October 1, 1896. Renewed February 8, 1898. Serial N0- 669,598. (No model.)

' and accompanying drawings. 7

My invention consists of' an improved de vice for tapping beer barrels, casks, &c., the novel features of which will be hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a device for tapping beer-barrels embodying my invention and a portion of a barrel or cask to which the same isapplicable. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view'of my invention in detached position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the top or upper portion of a beer or other barrel, cask, &c., and B my novel device or attachment applied thereto, the same consisting in the present instance of a conical-shaped shell 0, having an end D open and tapering there from to its other end, .which is normally closed and is provided with an interior-annular two-faced shoulder or flange E, having a passage E therethrough.

F designates a tongue or disk which constitutes a valve, the latter being formed in the present instance by the out G, which eX- tends around the closed end of the shell C and within the exterior periphery thereof, it being noted that the cut G is not continuous, but that an uncut space is left, forming the solid portion or neck H, which is preferably integral with said shell and with the valve or disk F. i

J designates a portion of a faucet or a tap which is inserted in the shell 0 until its extremity rests upon the flange E, and K designates a pipe which is inserted through said faucet, the upper end L of which is adapted to have a connection leading to a bar or any other desired place, while the lower end of the pipe K is provided with the perforations M, through which the beer passes up through the pipe K. v

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to tap the barrel, cask, &c., the shell 0 is placed over the faucet J ,the end of which rests against the flange E, and the valve F being closed, as shown in Fig. 2. The operator now places the end of the shell 0 against the bung of the barrel to be opened and drives the same into the barrel, the shell 0 and the faucet J thus entering the bung-hole, and by reason of the elasticity or flexibility of the material of the shell the same may be driven in until a tight joint is formed between the said shell 0 and the side of the bung-hole in the-top A of the barrel, and by reason of the valve F being closed the escape of any liquid is prevented. The pipe K, which leads to any desired point, is now passed into the faucet J, and a. tight joint therebetween is made in any desired manner, said pipe K in its descentcausing the valve F to be pushed aside, as seen in Fig. 1, and said pipe is forced to or toward the bottom of the barrel, so that the fluid passes into the pipe K through the openings M on the lower end of said pipe. When the pipe K is withdrawn, the valve or disk F, by reason of the resiliency of the portion H, will instantly assume the position seen in Fig. 2, and by withdrawing the faucet J and theshell C the same will be ready at once to tap another barrel, by which means tapping is quickly and effectively accomplished.

It will of course be understood that the shell 0, valve F, &c., are preferably made integral with each other and are composed of india-rubber, gutta-percha, or some other suitable resilient material, although I ,of course do not desire to be limited in every instance thereto or to be-restricted always to the exact construction hereinbefore described, as

A it is evident that changes may be made by those skilled in the art that will come within the scope of my invention.--

I The air is forced into the barrel, cask, &c.,

in the usual mannerfor example, through the nipple N.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device for tapping barrels, an openended shell, a valve or disk connected therewith, and a two-faced flange within said shell for said valve, the upper face forming a rest for a faucet, adapted to be inserted in the shell, and the lower face forming a seat for said valve.

2. In a device for tapping barrels, the combination of an open-ended shell 0, with a disk or valve F adjacent to an end thereof, and an internal valve-seat E having a passage E therethrough, said valve being adapted to normally rest upon said seat, and said shell. being adapted to receive a tap having a pipe therein, said pipe being adapted to unseat said valve.

3. In a device for tapping barrels, &c., a

' WILLIAM T. FENNAN.

Witnesses:

J GEN A. WIEDERSHEIM, WM. O.W1EDERsHE1M. 

